A-list cast for Robin Hood film

A set of top celebrities are set to star in a remake of Robin Hood

Russell Crowe, a New Zealander is set to play hero Robin Hood alongside Australian star Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian. [>

And the film is being directed by one of Britain’s most revered film-makers, Sir Ridley Scott.

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This will be Russell’s fifth collaboration with Scott, who directed him in Gladiator.

Cate Blanchett is set to star as Maid Marion in the new Robin Hood film

He joins stars such as Kevin Costner who played the man who took from the rich to give to the poor in the 1991 film Prince Of Thieves, which starred him as Robin, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Maid Marian and Christian Slater as Will Scarlett. This time the role of Will has gone to Scott Grimes, 37, best known for playing Dr Archie Morris in the TV series E.R.

She will star alongside Russell Crowe as Robin Hood

Little John, Robin’s tough-as-nails right-hand man, is to be played by a Canadian, Kevin Durand, 34, who starred alongside Crowe in the Western remake 3.10 To Yuma. He also appeared in the hit TV series Lost. The character is one of the best loved in Robin Hood folklore, memorably duelling with the outlaw with staffs as they try to cross a river from opposite banks, before becoming firm friends.

What they might look like: Rik Mayall and Kate Moss in the roles

And the role of Alan-a-Dayle has gone to another Canadian, Alan Doyle, who is not even an actor.

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He is the lead singer of a Canadian folk-rock band, Great Big Sea, best known for its sea shanties. His £85million, all-action version will show the outlaw as a troubled soul with “abandonment issues”. It will claim Robin found a sense of belonging with his men because he was abandoned as a child. The Sheriff of Nottingham will be downgraded to a bit part and the Normans will be Robin’s principal enemies.